The phenomenal capacity growth in NGSO is driving a surge in satellite communication applications, particularly SATCOM-on-the-Move (SOTM).  For NGSO to deliver on its mobility promise, Electronically Steerable Antennas (ESA) must be deployed.  As such, there is an increased demand for ESA technology to deliver broadband connectivity on mobile platforms from aircraft, naval vessels, and high-speed trains to the automotive industry.

For example, as the demand for In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) services continues to rise worldwide, so do passengers’ expectations for high performance and uninterrupted connectivity regardless of the duration and location of their flight. To offer consistently high throughput around the world, IFC Service Providers are expanding their service coverage to the NGSO eco-system which requires sophisticated airborne satcom terminals.

To address these markets, Gilat has developed a breakthrough Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) system for SATCOM-on-the-move connectivity. This ESA system has been proven in flight and has demonstrated remarkable performance. The ESA system is based on Gilat’s innovative Ku & Ka-band active phased array technology.

Gilat’s ESA system architecture is scalable in size and performance to fit various applications on land, sea and air. Gilat’s ESA was proven to meet the requirements of commercial and business aviation.

Gilat’s ESA system was designed for Very High Throughput Satellites (VHTS) over both GEO and NGSO constellations. Gilat’s ESA is designed to be compatible across all existing GEO IFC networks while providing best-in-class link performance down to 20-degree elevation. It’s flat design and light weight minimize drag and fuel consumption and the efficient SWaP enables passive cooling and minimal load on aircraft resources. Smart transmission power management guarantees adherence to relevant emission standards.

Gilat’s ESAs are fully integrated across a wide variety of IFC MODMANs, which enables smooth integration with most commercial modems and dual modem support. This facilitates exceptional network flexibility for service providers, integrators and aircraft manufacturers.

Gilat’s ESAs offer dual transmit and dual receive operations which empower GEO/MEO/LEO transitions of various options, including make-before-break and GEO/LEO simultaneous operations achieving the best possible global IFC coverage on GEOs and NGSOs combined. Advanced tracking algorithms and RF design provide for best-in-class elevation and skew compensation, improving antenna performance in real-world conditions.

Key Features and Benefits

• Tested on GEO, VHTS and LEO constellations including seamless switchover between GEO and LEO

• High RF performance per beam enables GEO operation down to 20-degree elevation

• High spectrum – 500MHz/250MHz instantaneous BW per beam, dual beam, more than 2.5Gbps total throughput

• Interoperable with GEO and NGSO IFC modems, supports simultaneous GEO/LEO

• Reliable, ruggedized, efficient, high performance and built to address commercial aviation quality standards (DO-160)

• Ultra-flat antenna design guarantees optimal performance and minimal drag using passive cooling

• Extremely reliable, >50,000 flight hours MTBF

In-flight connectivity (IFC) services require sophisticated airborne satellite communications equipment, as well as the ground network needed for constant satellite coverage along a route under any conditions. Gilat’s comprehensive broadband solution for in-flight connectivity leverages our cutting-edge technologies and unmatched expertise in implementing airborne satellite communications solutions for leading commercial aircraft manufacturers worldwide.

The innovative, dual Ku/Ka band RaySat ER6000-A antenna is a key component of our IFC solution. Ideal for seamless transition between any satellite service, the antenna facilitates quick electronic switching between frequency bands during flight, without requiring any disassembly or component replacement. RaySat ER6000-A enables aeronautical real-time broadband satellite communications for video, voice and data.

Gilat’s RaySat ER6000-A was designed to achieve highest gain by maximizing the antenna size in the available swept volume defined by the Boeing and Airbus line-fit radome. The antenna maximizes throughput by using high-efficiency waveguide panel technology. Its low profile and light weight also ensure easy and safe mounting on the aircraft. Multiple onboard tracking sensors enable accurate tracking, short initial acquisition and instantaneous re-acquisition.

Key Features and Benefits 

• Dual Ku/Ka band capabilities for seamless connectivity on any flight
• Designed for Boeing and Airbus line-fit radome
• Open architecture for operation with any service
• Superior antenna system transmission/reception performance and efficiency
• Easily integrated with third party modems
• Field-proven pointing and tracking technology